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How to Teach Preschoolers the Days of the Week

TheNanny612 — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:27:25 +0000

The Days of the week can be very
complicated for a Preschooler to learn. Sure, you can keep reminding them
every day what day it is and you can also be repetitive and keep repeating
the days of the week over and over again. But, that can get boring. Another
way to teach your Preschooler the days of the week is to do it through
fun activities.

Below I have added many ways to teach your Preschoolers the days of the week
through fun activities. Before you know it your Preschooler will be reciting
the days of the week.

How to Teach Preschoolers the days of the week

How to Teach a child the days of the week

This article will show you a couple of songs
to teach your child to learn the days of the week. Song is a great way to
teach your Preschooler many things. And, the days of the week is no exception.
They will surely know the days of the week within one week if you practice it
everyday!

Days of the Week Worksheets for Preschool

Enjoy these free printable activity
worksheets to learn and write the days of the week. Theses worksheets can
also extend into learning about nutrition (food pyramid), numbers, and the metamorphosis
of a caterpillar to butterfly.

Lift and Paste Days of
the Week Activity

Here is a clever
and crafty activity to help teach your Preschoolers the days of the
week. With a scissor and some glue your kids will be reciting the days
of the week in no time flat.

Calendar Time – Learning the Days of the Week

This page has tons
of fun educational activities to help teach your preschooler their days
of the week. You can do it with song, poem, coloring pages and many, many more
activities. You have tons of options to help teach your Preschoolers the days
of the week.

Days of the Week by Caillou

I don’t know about your Preschoolers, but my kids when they were Preschoolers
loved Caillou. And, he is still around and he has something to teach our Preschoolers.
Let Caillou
help teach your Preschoolers the days of the week.

Teach the Days of the Week through Song and Video

Let this fun
and catchy video help teach your Preschooler the days of the week. The song
is not only catchy, but the fun animation is a joy to watch as well. Your kids
will love learning the days of the week with this video.

Days of the Week Pictures

If you are trying to teach your Preschooler the days of the week then you have
to remember to teach them visually too. Repetition is great, but don’t forget
their sense of sight as well. Here are Days
of the Week Pictures to help you teach your Preschoolers the days of the
week visually.

Top Image by Rubyran

Hanukkah Puzzles

TheNanny612 — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:21:07 +0000

Hanukkah is less than two weeks away. And, if your kids are anything like my
kids they are getting super duper excited about it. Sometimes it can be difficult
to keep your children’s energy focused in the correct area when they are this
excited. Hanukkah Puzzles are one way to keep your children
focused and creative during this highly exciting time.

Here I have put together some Hanukkah Puzzles I found online. These are great
to do along with your children…. and a whole lot of fun too. And, don’t forget
that we have some Hanukkah
Crafts and Activities to keep your children creative too.

Hanukkah Puzzles

Hanukkah Word Unscramble
Puzzle

ABC Teach put together this awesome Hanukkah
Puzzle. I love it…. and your kids will too. Sit down with your kids
and see if you guys (and gals) can do this puzzle together.

Easy Hanukkah Word Search

My kids and I love doing Word Searches. And, even the youngest Preschoolers
can enjoy a word search. The young kids who can’t find entire words can help
you find the beginning letters and get you on your way. Gotta love the team
effort puzzles. Print off this Hanukkah Puzzle Word
Search and enjoy doing it with your children.

How to Play the Game of Dreidel

The game of Hanukkah Dreidel is a traditional Hanukkah game that has
been around for hundreds of years. But, do you know how to play? It is a lot
of fun. Check out this article from About and learn
how to play the game of Dreidel with your kids.

Hanukkah Crossword Puzzle

This Hanukkah puzzle will definitely be a puzzle that your young kids
will need to do along with you. But, think of it this way…. it will be a great
bonding time with your children. Answer the questions along with your children
and see if you all can get all the answers in the Hanukkah
Crossword Puzzle correctly.

Hanukkah Maze Puzzle – Find the Dreidel

The HolidayZone
put together this great maze. Can you and your children help this little girl
find the Dreidel? Print off this Hanukkah
Maze for your kids and see if they can help the little girl find her way
to her dreidel…. she wants to play it after lighting the Hanukkah Menorah.

Star of David Dot-to-Dot

Kids love Dot-to-Dots and PrintActivities
put together this awesome Star
of David Dot-to-Dot that I know that your kids’ will totally adore. See
if your kids can do this Hanukkah Dot-to-Dot and make this beautiful Star of
David.

Top Image by skazon

Thanksgiving Handprint Crafts

TheNanny612 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:22:47 +0000

Thanksgiving is just days away. And, there is nothing that could get your kids
excited about the Thanksgiving Holiday than to get them doing some fun Thanksgiving
crafts. And, these ones are not only fun, but easy. The kids will use the shape
of their hands to make all kinds of Thanksgiving Handprint Crafts.

I have hunted all over the internet to put together some super duper fun Thanksgiving
Handprint Crafts for you. No need to hunt all over the internet yourself….
below you will find plenty of Thanksgiving Crafts to keep you and your kids
busy for a long time.

Thanksgiving Handprint Crafts

Handprint Turkey

Here’s a quick and easy Fall or Thanksgiving preschool craft. All
you need is a little glue, some scissors, colored paper and your preschooler’s
hand. What your finished project turns out to be is a handprint
turkey that is super cute!!

Feather Turkey Handprint Craft

Using some brown cardboard, orange paper and feathers you and your children
can make this adorable turkey. How sweet is this Thanksgiving Project?! So Sweet!!
Your kids will have a blast making this Feather
Turkey Handprint Craft with you.

Autumn Handprint Tree Craft

Hand print and finger print crafts always make wonderful keepsakes. Here’s
a fun way to celebrate the coming of Autumn while preserving your child’s
size and age at the same time. Take a look at this beautiful Autumn
Handprint Tree Craft… Its not only adorable, but it is truly a keepsake.

Framed Handprint Turkey

Kids will literally need to lend a helping hand for this framed
handprint turkey project! A twist on the classic handprint turkey, this
craft makes a wonderful keepsake that you and your child will cherish for years
to come.

Thanksgiving Cornucopia with Hand Print Leaves
This
Thanksgiving
Cornucopia Craft makes a lovely centerpiece and the whole family can contribute
to the finished product. Notice the construction paper hands? Nothing like having
a centerpiece to look at during your Thanksgiving Feast that you can literally
see that your children helped put together. It will be quite the conversation
piece. (you will have to scroll down to the 3rd craft on the page)

Hand-y Thanksgiving Wreath

This Hand-y
Thanksgiving Wreath Craft is just perfect for the hands of your little ones.
With a little hand tracing, construction paper and crafting, your child will
have something to display in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving.

Handprint Turkey Art
This
Handprint
Turkey Art is a unique way to not only make some Thanksgiving artwork,
but to show off how much your children have grown from one Thanksgiving
to the next. Why not make it a tradition to make Turkey artwork every year
and watch how your children hands and the turkeys grow.

THANKSGIVING HANDPRINT TREE

This Thanksgiving
Handprint Tree is a beautiful crafty item. Using a cork board or poster
board, paint, handprints, tacks and some other items you can make a creative
item that can last a lifetime. Why not add have the entire family write what
they are thankful for on their own handprint. Great thing to do together as
a family.

Handprint Turkey Cookies Recipe

These cookies look so YUMMY!! Now, I know the children will need a
lot of help with these Handprint
Thanksgiving Cookies, but how much fun would it be for all of you?! So much
fun!! Why not get all of your hands dirty and you make some using your handprints
too.

Thanksgiving handrpint turkey Artwork
Now, I must admit that
out of all the Handprint
Turkey Crafts this one looks more like a real Thanksgiving Turkey than all
the rest. I’m sure it has to do with the colors and they type of paint they
used. Very clever!!

Handprint Tree
This
is a unique handprint
Tree and I love it!! I have 5 kids so I love when my children do this craft.
With all the different sizes of hands and different color construction paper
this Handprint Craft makes the perfect Autumn / Thanksgiving Handprint Tree.

Handprint Keepsake Thanksgiving Plate Craft
I
love this craft and I must say that this is a "Must Do" craft for
me and my family this Thanksgiving!! I have no doubt that these Handprint
Keepsake Thanksgiving Plate Crafts will be something to treasure for years
and years to come. As a matter of fact, why not make these keepsake plates and
give them to a grandparent as a gift….. no doubt they will love it!!

Toilet Paper Roll Turkey
Wondering
what to do with those old empty toilet paper rolls? Why not make these adorable
Toilet
Paper Roll Turkeys. They are super cute and the kids will get a kick out
of using the toilet paper rolls. If they are anything like my kids the minute
you tell them you are going to use toilet paper rolls they will giggle and giggle.

Family Thanksgiving Flyer
If
you are looking for a unique way to invite your guests to your Thanksgiving
Feast why not involve your children and make these unique Thanksgiving
Dinner Announcements. Using your children’s hand’s and some cardstock you
can make some wonderfully beautiful Thanksgiving Invites.

Handprint Wreath Of Thankfulness
I
love this Handprint
Wreath of Thankfulness. We all have something to be thankful for. Why not
have everyone in your family write what they are thankful for and add it to
this Wreath of Thankfulness craft. Not only will the outcome be gorgeous, but
it will be a family project…. gotta love that!!

Top image by terren
in Virginia

About Me Activities Part II – Teaching the Five Senses

TheNanny612 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:47:05 +0000

Yesterday I gave you plenty of “All About Me” Preschool Activities that you can do with your children to help
teach them about themselves in the Physical sense. Everybody is unique, but
it goes deeper than just the Physical sense…. such as our senses. Today I
am going to give you some activities to do with your children to help you teach
them about their senses.

We have 5 senses

Touch
Sound
Smell
Sight
Taste

Here are some activities that you can do with your children so that
they can see that their senses are unique…. different than anyone else’s.

Teaching the Five Senses

In order to teach the five senses to your preschool age children you have to
be hands on…. there is no easy way to teach your children about their five
senses without having them touch, taste, hear, smell and see. So, that is exactly
what we are going to do.

Sense of Touch Activities

My Hand Book – Help the children trace their hands on to
paper…. these will be the pages of the book. On each page of the book have
the children write what they like to do with their hands. You will probably
have to help them with this project.
Feely Box – Place different objects with different textures
in a box or bag. Ask the children to reach in and describe what they feel.
Can they figure out what you have in there?
Playing in Sand – Put some sand in a box or a cake pan
and have the kids play in it with their hands. Let them draw things in the
sand. Have them describe what it felt like.
Textured Finger painting – Mix some finger paints with
sand. This creates a textured paint. Have the children paint with this textured
finger paint concoction. What did it feel like? Did they like the way it felt?
Being the Architect – Bring out all different types of
material that have different textures… such as corrugated boxes, egg cartons,
empty paper towel rolls, etc. Let the children use their imagination to build
things.

Sense of Smell Activities

Scratch and Sniff - Help the kids make their own Scratch
and Sniff items. Simply spread flavored powered gelatin on a paper. Once it
dries completely let the kids scratch and sniff them. Which one do they like
the most? Which do they least like?
Jars of Smells – Soak cotton balls in different flavorings
such as peppermint, orange or lemon. Place each cotton ball in a baby food
jar. Punch holes in the lid. Let the children smell each. Which one do they
most like? Which do they least like?
My Art Smells – Bring out some scented markers. Ask the
children to draw pictures of things they love to smell…. such as flowers,
meatloaf, shampoo, etc…
Vote with your Nose – Using index cards spray different
scents on each. Label each with a number and pass the cards around. Let the
children vote on what they like most. Let them also vote what they least like.
Potpourri - Help the children make their own Potpourri
mixture. You can use spices such as cinnamon sticks and mint leaves. Use squares
of netting that you can pick up at any craft store or even a discount store
like Wal-Mart.

Sense of Taste Activities

Likes and Dislikes – Bring out some old magazines.
Each child gets 2 pieces of construction paper….. 1 marked, "Foods
I like" and the 2nd marked, "Foods I don’t Like".
Give each of the kids safety scissors and have the kids cut out foods
and past them on one of two papers accordingly.

Look the Same / Taste Different - Provide items that look
alike, but taste VERY different. Bring out vinegar and water, salt and sugar,
and flour and baking soda. Let the children try each and describe the differences.
Just a little dab on the end of the finger is good enough. What makes them
so different even though they look similar? What are the kids’ thoughts?

Sense of Sight Activities

My Art is BIG - Have the children draw pictures while looking
through a magnifying glass. Is it hard or easier to draw this way? Why?
Pin the Tail on the Donkey – This is a fun game to play
when you are talking about the Sense of Sight. After playing the game with
the children ask the kids if this task was difficult. Ask them why or why
not. Listen to their detailed explanation. Talk about it.
Look at the World Differently – Bring out different colored
cellophane. Have the children look through each by placing a small piece of
cellophane over the eyes (Do Not let them place the cellophane over their
head!! This is a safety hazard). Ask the children to describe what they see
when they look through the different color cellophane. What did they notice
when they looked at something without the colored cellophane compared to with
the cellophane? Which color cellophane was their favorite?
Look at Those Eyes – Bring out pictures of human’s eyes
and animal’s eyes. You can look for pictures online, in books, magazines or
at a library. Show the kids all the different eyes you found? Are their any
differences between a human eyes and an animals eyes? Discuss.

Sense of Sound Activities

Rhythm – Help teach the children rhythm. Turn on some children’s
music. Using instruments, sticks or even the children’s clapping hands see
if they can find the beat. You start by discovering the beat and let them
follow. Now, you stop…. can they continue keeping up with the rhythm?
Make Musical Instruments - Bring out empty canisters….
Empty Pringles cans work wonderfully for this. Fill up the canisters half-way
with items that make different sounds. Make one musical canister with macaroni
noodles, make the next with rice and maybe the next with pennies. They each
should sound differently. Now, let them use their new instruments to follow
the rhythm in a song.
Can you Find the Sound? – Blindfold one of the children.
Have another child make a noise. Ask the blindfolded child to point in the
direction of the sound. Were they right? Was this a difficult task for the
blindfolded child? Why or why not?
Ring the Bell - Hang bells from the ceiling using yarn.
Make sure the bells and yard are out of the way so children don’t get hurt.
Give a child a bean bag and see if they can ring the bell. Pass the bean bag
around and give everyone a chance to ring the bell.

In conclusion

There are so many activities that use our senses. As a matter of fact, we could
easily take our senses for granted because we use them so often. But, without
our sense our lives would be so much different. Talk to the children about this….
ask them what they think life would be like without one of our senses such as
hearing, seeing, tasting, touching or smelling.

After these activities your children should be very aware of their own senses.
There is no better way to teach children about their senses than just getting
right in and using them.

Top image by Nickster

“All About Me” Preschool Activities – Part I

TheNanny612 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:13:12 +0000

It might surprise you to know that many children think that what they
enjoy…. everyone enjoys. And, what makes them happy….
makes everyone happy. And, what they find fun…. everyone
would find fun. It’s true. So, today I am going to write about different
projects that will help you teach your children that everyone is different...
from their looks, to their feelings, to even their senses such as taste and
sound.

Today I’m just going to get into projects that have to do with physical attributes.
Tomorrow I will get into the feelings and senses attributes.

But, the concept of "everyone is different" can
be hard to teach to a child without some hands-on projects. So, without further
ado…..

"All About Me" Preschool Activities

Me Puppets

In this project you will be assisting the children in Making "Me Puppets".
Me puppets will help you reinforce to the children that everyone is different
in the physical sense. You will need 6 inch paper plates to use as faces, popsicle
sticks or tongue depressors as the holders. Also, get out some yarn, markers,
crayons, child safety scissors and glue to finish off the "Me Puppet".
Let them put on a puppet show.

Self-Portraits

Give the kid some art supplies and let them draw pictures of themselves. Give
them a list of easy descriptive words and let them chose the words that most
describe themselves. You can even have pictures next to the descriptive words
to help them chose the words that best describe them. For example, for the word
“funny” you can have a person laughing so that they know that word is "funny".
And, for the word “smart” you can have a picture of a person with a light bulb
above their head. Those are just examples, but you get the idea. You want to
help your child pick descriptive words describing themselves.

Eye Color Graph

Make a color graph to show the different colors of eyes such as…. blue, green,
brown and hazel eyes. Let the children look in the mirror and decide what eye
color they have on their own. Did they chose the right color. Talk about that with them.

Thumbprints

This is a really cool project… a little messy, but cool. Bring out an ink
pad and let the kids place their thumb on the ink pad and then onto their own
pieces of blank paper. Give each of the children a magnifying glass and let
them determine what makes each thumbprint different. Do they notice the differences?
Explain to the children that no two fingerprints are alike…. pretty amazing,
huh?!

Body Tracing

You might need to help the child
with this project if you don’t have more than one child. Give each child
a very large paper. Your best bet would be to use butcher paper or art paper
from those very large rolls. The paper has to be large enough that a child
can lay on top of it and be traced. Lay the paper on a hard floor and have a child
lay on top of the paper. Use a writing utensil (pencil, crayon or marker)
to trace around the child’s body. Ask the child you just traced to color
in the clothes on their body and to draw their features on it. Have them
make themselves using the traced body.

Me Stories

Let the children create short stories about themselves. They can draw pictures
and make it a picture book or you can help them write a story using word and with the pictures
as well.

Felt Faces

Cover a coffee can with felt. Also, cut out different sizes and shapes of
felt cutouts. Tell the kids to make their faces using the different shaped felt
and the coffee can. Felt sticks onto felt pretty easily, so no other supplies
such as glue or tape is needed.

Growth Charts

Provide a measurement chart and scales for the children to measure their height
and weight. Explain to the children what these numbers mean.

In Conclusion

These projects should help you teach your children all about them in
the physical sense. Tomorrow we will continue the "About
Me" topic, but go into projects that help you teach them about
themselves using their feelings and their senses.

Top image by squacco

Crayon Scratch Art Crafts

TheNanny612 — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:33:11 +0000

One of my children’s favorite type of art is Crayon Scratch Art. My children
love to scratch their way to creative fun artwork….. and I wouldn’t be surprised
if your children would love it as well. I have compiled a list of wonderful
pages online that offer tutorials and information on how to make creative Crayon
Scratch Art with your children.

Crayon Scratch Art Crafts

Scratch Art Fun

Learn how to make beautiful
scratch art with your children. Wonderful and colorful fun!!

Scratch Art

Are you looking for a fun craft to do with the kids on a rainy day? Try this
Crayon
Scratch Art.

Scratch Art Collage

Here is a spin
on the typical Crayon Scratch Art. Use magazine clippings to make them into
creative artwork.

Scratchboard Art Projects and Tutorials

Tons of Scratchboard
Art facts and information. Plenty of information on what scratch art is
all about and a bit of "how-to" as well.

Scratch Art Fun

Scratch
away to true colorful beauty. Your kids will love this scratching fun!!

Crayon Scratching

Shows you how to get Creative
with Crayons and Paper Clips. A fun and simple pleasure for you and your
kids.

Halloween Crayon Etching

A bit of history on Scratch art as well as a how-to to crayon scratch art to
make a beautiful and scary Halloween
Crayon Scratch Art.

Homemade Scratch Art Tutorial

A brilliant tutorial on how to make homemade
scratch art with your children. Your children will have a blast and the
artwork your children create will be amazing!!

Top image by singlecupofcoffee

Back to School Crafts

TheNanny612 — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 02:02:55 +0000

It is Back to School Season. And, whether you have children attending school
or you have decided to homeschool your children they can all enjoy the excitement
of getting back to the school grind. Pull out your craft box and all your craft
goodies and enjoy some Back to School Crafts with your kids.

I have searched the world wide web for some Back to School Crafts that are
sure to entertain both you and your children. So, what are you waiting for?
Get crafting.

Back to School Crafts

Pencil Holder Craft

Check out this adorable Back to School Craft. Lauren posted this really cute
Pencil
Holder Craft over at momaroo. Not only will this craft be a ton of fun,
but it will be very useful during the school months ahead.

Adorable Covered Notebook and Pen Craft

Take a look at these cute
notebooks? You can be guaranteed that your child will not have a matching
notebook with anyone else. Not when you make your very own one of a kind Back
to School Covered Notebook. Here Erika at Oops! I Craft my Pants shows you how
to make your very own covered notebook. And, you don’t have to stop there. She
even shows you how to make a covered pen as well.

Clipboard Organizer Craft

I found this cute Back to School Craft over at OurBigEarth.com. It is not only
a clipboard,
but an organizer as well. If you already have children in school you know
the amount of papers that go back and forth to and from school. The chances
of these things getting lost or misplaced is pretty high. But, with this clever
craft clipboard organizer you have a good chance at making sure the papers get
where they are supposed to be.

Pencil Door Hanger Craft

Let everyone know what is going on inside your child’s room with this Pencil
Door Hanger craft. Your child will not only enjoy making this back to school
craft, but also enjoy using it as well. There is nothing much better than the
how proud your child will feel when he made something that he can actually use.

Apple Backpack Craft

Ok…. this backpack is totally cute!! I mean really, really cute!!! And, what
is even better is the fact that you can make this back to school craft at home
with your child. Ellen Luckett Baker over at AlphaMom.com gives you the instructions
on how to make this perfectly yummy Apple
Backpack.

Back to School Folder Craft

Whether your children are homeschooled or attend a private or public school
they will need a folder. Check out this folder
designed by Donna Meuli at FiskarsCraft. It is chuck full of Color and Organization.
The kids will love the fun and color and parents will love the plenty of organized
storage this folder has.

Personalized Backpack Craft

Did you already purchase a backpack for your child, but you want to give it
a little bit of personal flavor? Check out what this mother did for her daughter’s
backpack to spice it up. She takes you through the planning process from beginning
to end with this Personalized
Backpack craft. Very cute!!

Roll-Up Pencil Kit Craft

Wow, this back to school craft is one of my favorites. See how using a place
mat you can make this handy pencil
kit. This craft is very easy, but oh so useful!!!

Back to School Bus Craft

Looking for a craft that any age can do? Then this is the back to school craft
for you. Using an egg carton, paint and a sharpee the This and That Blog shows
you how to make this fun and adorable School
Bus Craft perfect for back to school.

Pocket-It Craft

Okay, how cute is this Back to School Craft??? So cute!!! Camberley over at
The Bella Life shows us how to take a pocket from an old pair of jeans and make
this adorable
pocket-it craft. What is so clever about this back to school craft is that
the pocket on the notebook gives you a place to put your pen and pencils.

School Bead Necklace Craft

This Back to School craft is more for adults than children, but the outcome
is a beautiful
necklace that a little girl would love to wear for back to school. I found
this craft over at favecrafts.com and I just had to share it with you…. its
really, really pretty.

Creative Book Cover Craft

Do you remember the book covers from our time? We would use shopping bags to
cover our books, right? Well, take a look at this super cute and creative
book cover craft? All the kids will be jealous of your child’s school book
cover.

Reusable Sandwich Bags Craft

Check out these lunch bags that will be perfect for back to school. Heidi over
at Dabbled shows us how to make these super
cute sandwich bags for back to school. They are completely reusable, so
not only will they be sporting adorable bags at lunch they will also be helping
the environment.

Bookmarks Back to School Kids’ Craft

I found this Bookmark
Craft over at The Bella Life Blog and I thought It was a great back to school
craft to do with young children. If you are feeling really adventurous you and
the children can even make a bunch of bookmarks to hand out to classmates at
school. Don’t forget one for the teacher!!

Lunchbox Craft

Brittinee at Busy B Homemaker posted this Lunchbox
craft earlier this month. It really is a clever way to personalize many
of your back to school items. And, it is a fun craft to do with your little
student.

Cereal Box Bookmarks Craft

I love this bookmark
craft. Not only is it a great way to show the kids that making items from
used packaging is great for the environment. But, it is also a craft that’s
easy and produces a totally cute bookmark that is perfect for back to school.

Desk Supply Box Craft

How proud do you think your little students will be after they make a craft
like this Desk
Supply Box craft? I bet they will be extremely proud of themselves. Not
only is this craft super fun to make, but children will find the finished Back
to School Craft extremely useful as well.

Teaching a Child to Ride a Bike without Training Wheels

TheNanny612 — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:33:34 +0000

Image by jonny.hunter

I remember when I was little and my mom taught me how to ride a bike without
training wheels. Actually, I remember it quite vividly. How can I not? I still
have a few scars on my knees to prove it.

My mom and I out in our back alley of my childhood home. Her running behind
me while holding me up and then all of a sudden I realize she is no longer hold
me up and I immediately panic and fall over.

I remember the fear I felt when I realized she wasn’t holding me up any longer.
I also remember me yelling at my mom in the most dramatic fashion when I blamed
her for me falling and hurting myself. But, what I remember most importantly
is thee feeling of accomplishment when I was able to ride on my own.

I know my mom taught me how to
ride my bike how most parents teach their children how to ride a bike.
My mom didn’t do anything wrong. After all, children learn by trial and
error. From falling I learned how to balance better. I learned what worked
and didn’t work. I learned that I didn’t want to fall anymore…. falling
hurt. But, I kept at it because I wanted so badly to ride my bike on my
own… without training wheels.

I had decided that there must be another way to teach our children how to ride
a bike without training wheels. I understood that my children needed to learn
balance. That in order to learn balance there must be some falling. But, I wanted
to teach my children how to do this with less injuries. And, I did just that.
How? By teaching my children the first few days how to ride bike on the grass.

On the grass? Yep.

Steps I used to Teach my Kids how to Ride Bike without Pain

I didn’t start them too early – They had to understand
a bit of balance. They trained hard on Training wheels for some time. We also
made sure to raise the training wheels every so often as they got use to them.
By the time we removed them from our children’s bikes they were at the highest
level possible and the kids were no longer relying on them for balance as
much.
Started on the Grass - The first few days of training was
spent on the grass. This way they were learn balance, but their falls would
be much less painful… macadam hurts.
Slight Decline on Grass – My background seemed to be the
perfect spot for the kids to learn how to ride bike. There was a very slight
decline in the yard which gave them a little momentum without making them
go to fast.
They Need to Know How to Brake – Before the training wheels
come off the kids need to know how to brake. I practiced a long time with
my children on breaking…. way before the training wheels come off. And,
this is necessary. When the training wheels come off you will find that your
kids will be concentrating so hard on balancing that they will occasionally
forget the things they already learned. You don’t want them to have to worry
about learning balancing and breaking at once.
Don’t expect too much – I went into this event know there
would be some falls, some laughter and probably even some tears. And, that
is exactly what happened. The day will have his challenges, but you will find
more than that there will be ample rewards too.
Celebrate Even the Littlest of Things – This project is
a true challenge for the kids. Not only is it difficult to learn, but it can
be a bit scary for the kids. So, celebrate even the tiniest of advances. If
they stayed up for 20 seconds celebrate it. Be a cheerleader for your child.
Inspect the Bike before Training -Make sure all the bolts
are tightened and the chains are greased. This way the bike rides as smoothly
as possible. Nothing will cause your child to be super scared of riding their
bike than to have them fall due to a bolt coming loose. Do not skip this step!!
Tell them what you are doing through Every Step – I made
sure to tell my children exactly what I was doing every step of the way. Don’t
let go without your child knowing that was going to happen. My mom did that
to me and the minute I saw she wasn’t holding me anymore…. I’d fall due
to panic. Let your child know what you are doing right before you do it.
Reminder Child to Always Look Straight Ahead – This might
seem obvious to us, but to a child it is not. You will find that your child
will be tempted to look at their feet while they are pedaling or to look back
to see if you are still holding them. Constantly remind your child to look
straight ahead. Not only is this important so they don’t hit into anything,
but this will help your child keep the bike balanced as well.
Hold your Child Correctly – When you are holding your child
up and running behind them you will be tempted to hold them on the back of
the seat and handle bars. But, your child will not be able to learn balancing
well this way and it will be impossible for the child to learn how to steer
as well. Make sure to hold your child up by holding the back of the bike seat
and their shoulder or sweatshirt.
Dress your Child Well – Make sure that your child doesn’t
wear anything that you don’t mind getting grass stained or torn. Plus, you
want the less skin showing as possible. Long pant and a Sweat shirt work great.
This way if they fall they will be less apt to get cuts and scrapes and be
frightened to get back on.

Also, if you do not have a nice area of grass suitable for teaching your child
to ride a bike and must do it on macadam please make sure to have elbow and
knee pads. Plus, it is imperative that you don’t skip out on the helmet even
if you are riding on the grass. Any fall can cause head injury without the proper
protective gear.

Preschool Thanksgiving Crafts – Fun & Festive!!

TheNanny612 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:24:30 +0000

YAY!! It’s November which means later this month is Thanksgiving. What better
way to celebrate the upcoming Turkey Day than to do some fun Preschool Thanksgiving
Crafts.

Below you will find 10 awesome Preschool Crafts perfect for the Thanksgiving
Holidays. Enjoy some fun Thanksviving crafts and teach your little Preschoolers
all about the Pilgrims, Indians and of course….. Turkeys!!

Preschool Thanksgiving Crafts

Learn how to make a perfect turkey with your little Preschooler by using
paint samples from your local hardware store. Super easy crafts, but so much
fun!!

This is an amazing Thanksgiving Craft for you and your children to make.
You will be making a Thanksgiving Turkey Lapbook where your child will list
the things he or she is thankful for on the cover. This particular Thanksgiving
Preschool Craft is Christian based. It is a lot of fun, but keep in mind that
this particular Lapbook Thanksgiving craft will take a lot of help from you,
but it is so worth it.

Help your Preschool age child make this Thanksgiving Turkey Craft by tracing
his left and right hands. This is a truly colorful Turkey Craft perefect for
the November holiday!!

Toddler
Crafts: Construction Paper Turkey — powered by ExpertVillage.com

There is not a Preschool Child anywhere that wouldn’t just LOVE this Indian
Headband Thanksgiving Craft. Using Construction Paper, Feathers & Tape
help your Preschooler make this awesome Thanksgiving Indian Headband Craft.

Make a Pumpkin Paperbag Craft…. an excellent Preschool craft for Thanksgiving.
Fun, Easy and Beautiful. Help you child make this festive Thanksgiving craft….
not only is it fun but the craft is cute enough to use at the Thanksgiving
Table.

20 Egg-sellent Easter Crafts & Activities for Kids

TheNanny612 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 03:56:48 +0000

Here you go….. here are
some of my favorite Easter crafts and activities to do with my children for
the Easter Holidays. Kids love the Holidays for many reasons. But, I like to
remind my children that bottom line the Holidays are about "Family".
So, remind your children of that fact by involving the entire family in these
fun Easter Crafts and Activities.

	Paper Easter Baskets – Fun paper craft to do with your kids perfect for Easter. These Easter Baskets are not only a fun craft to make with your children, but also are perfect to fill with treats or Easter Eggs.
	Bunny Ears for Kids – This is a super easy and a super fun craft to do with your kids in celebration of the Easter Holiday.
	Plastic Egg Bunny - Help your kids make these super cute Easter Egg Bunnies. Then hide the eggs and have the kids find all the Plastic Egg Bunnies. Fun, Fun!!
	Easter Placemat Craft – Very cute and very easy Placemat craft to do with your children. Great to use for decorations around the Easter table.
	Jelly Bean Belly Easter Bunny – A child loves Jelly Beans on Easter…. Easter just wouldn’t be the same without Jelly Beans. Here is a craft to celebrate Jelly Beans on Easter.
	Brown Bag Bunny – Okay, now this bunny is sooooo…. cute!! And, it is made out of a paper bag.
	Finger Print Egg – We all love crafts that help us remember the special quality times we spent with our children. Well, these Finger Print Eggs are no exception. Help the kids use their fingers to make these beautiful egg perfect for Easter.

	Paper Mache Easter Eggs – A beautiful and fun crafts for the kids.
	Paper Cup Bunny and Chick – The kids will love making these fun paper cup crafts. They will enjoy making them so much they will want to make them for all the Easter Guests this Holiday.
	Cotton Covered Sequin Eggs - This just might be the fanciest Easter Egg craft out there. Make these beautiful Easter Eggs with your kids.
	Felt Easter Egg Pouch – Help you kids make these felt Easter Egg Pouches. Then let them decorate the outside of the pouches with whatever craft decorations they would like. Let them fill their pouches with stickers and small Easter goodies.
	Cute Easter Chickens - Your kids will need your help with this craft, but it will be so worth it. This Chicken craft turns out adorable.
	Easter Bunny Mask – Kids love to wear masks and imagine they are someone or something else. Help your child make this Easter Bunny Mask so that he can pretend he is the Easter Bunny on Easter Morning.
	Egg Carton Easter Basket - Isn’t this Easter Basket Craft cute? And, its easy to make. Have your kids decorate them anyway they want to. They are great to use as kids’ favors for treats after the Easter meal.
	Toilet Paper Tube Easter Egg Holders – Preschoolers will love making these super easy crafts for the Easter Holidays. And, the supplies are things you will find around the house…. like toilet paper tubes.
	Easter Bunny Basket – Check out this Easter Craft that is not only fun to make, but fun to use when the craft has been finished.
	Easter Bunny Plate – Cute Easter Bunny Plate craft designed by a Stay at Home Mom…. gotta love it!!
	Sock Bunnies – Now this is a craft you will have to help your child with, but take a look at the image to your left….. isn’t it cute!! This sock bunny craft is totally adorable. And, this way you can recycle their socks that are too small for them to wear.
	Felted Easter Eggs – Check out how this mom and a bunch of children make these simply beautiful Felted Easter Eggs. Group project… gotta love it!!

easter crafts activities arts & holidays kids children parenting preschool